Vacuum relay



v Aug. 14, 1951 I J. F. FRESE VACUUM RELAY Filed Nov. 7, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 zjbkM Q? 53 g mme/ Y Y ATTOR/VE Patented Aug. 14, 1951 VACUUM RELAY Joseph F. Frese, Baltimore, Md., assignor to The Monitor Controller Company,'Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application November 7, 1945, Serial No. 627,230

8 Claims. 1

My invention relates broadly to vacuum relays and more particularly to an electromagnetic operating mechanism for a vacuum relay for controlling high voltage circuits.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a construction of electromagnetic operating mechanism for vacuum relays having means for increasing the sensitivity of the relay in response to control currents.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of electromagnetic operating mechanism for vacuum relays which include internally arranged magnetic operating means in which an external magnetic path is arranged about the electromagnetic operating mechanism of the relay for providing a return path for the magnetic lines of force about the electromagnetic operating mechanism.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction of electromagnetic operating mechanism for vacuum relays in which electromagnetic operating means is arranged in a housing surrounding the vacuum relay intermediate the ends thereof with means associated with the magnetic operating mechanism for establishing an external path for the magnetic lines of force which thread the vacuum relay.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction of nonmagnetic housing for vacuum relays enclosing a solenoid winding therein surrounding the vacuum relay with magnetic means interposed between the solenoid winding and the housing of nonmagnetic material for forming a magnetic path for the magnetic lines of force threading the vacuum relay.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the details of construction of the electromagnetic operating means for a vacuum relay as set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a vacuum relay embodying my invention with parts broken away and illustrated in section; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig.3 is a side :view of the vacuum relay embodying my invention with parts of the mounting means broken away and illustrated in section; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 with certain of the parts illustrated in elevation; Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken through the frame structure of the housing which encloses the operating solenoid of the vacuum relay and showing particularly the coacting magnetic members which provide the external magnetic path for lines of force around the electromagnetic operating mechanism of the vacuum relay; Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line l'! of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 8--8 of Fig. 6 and illustrating the manner of mounting the solenoid within the nonmagnetic housing which surrounds the vacuum relay.

My invention is directed to an electromagnetic operating mechanism for vacuum relays in which the sensitivity of the vacuum relay may be increased and the amplitude of the operating cur rent decreased by an improved construction of electromagnetic operating means. I provide in combination with a vacuum relay, insulatingly supported in spaced relation to a support, a structure of insulation material, a transversely projecting nonmagnetic housing which surrounds the vacuum relay adjacent that portion thereof which includes internally arranged magnetic operating means. The house which surrounds the vacuum relay provides a mounting means for a solenoid winding which excites the magnetic means internally of the vacuum relay. I interpose between the nonmagnetic housing and the solenoid winding an arrangement of magnetic members which provide an external path of magnetic lines of force which thread the magnetic means internally of the vacuum relay. The provision of this external magnetic path around the solenoid winding results in a very substantial increase in operating efficiency of the vacuum relay as a very appreciable decrease in operating current may be eifected for securing comparable control of the contactors within the vacuum relay. Moreover, the structure of the nonmagnetic housing is such that the entire unit may be fungus treated and sealed for the permanent protection of the encased solenoid winding and wherein the housing serves as a shield for confiningradio frequency currents. Allowing gaps of 1-16 between the movable contactor and the fixed contacts within the vacuum relay, I have successfully controlled power within the range of 7000 volts and 5 amperes.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, reference character 1 designates a supporting panel disposed in an approximate vertical plane and having pedestal insulators 3, 4 and 5 mounted thereon and secured thereto by suitable screws, represented at 4a and 5a. Each of the pedestal insulators carries a connecting strip at the extremity thereof by means of screws 9, I0 and II. The connecting strips 6, I and 8 are each provided with angle portions 5a, Ia and 8a which abut against the sides of the pedestal insulators 3, 4 and 5 for rigidly mounting the strips with respect thereto. Binding posts 6b, lb and 8b are provided for each of the strips 3, I and 8.

The securing screws 3, I and II which enter the strips 6, I and 8, respectively, provide mounting means for the pairs of resilient securing clips shown at I2, I4 and I and which serve as engaging and suspension means for the ball-like terminals I 6, I1 and I8 of the vacuum relay I9. Thus, the vacuum relay I9 is suspended in spaced and insulated relation to the panel I.

The vacuum relay I3 comprises an evacuated envelope having a multiplicity of tubular arms, shown at I911, I91) and I90, which are radially disposed and which unite in a central portion IQd, forming the housing for the contactors. The tubular portion I9a extends substantially normal to the axis of the tubular portions I91) and I90 of the vacuum relay. The tubular portion I9a houses the movable armature or leaf spring 24, having enlarged magnetic head 200, which carries contacts 23a and 20b adjacent the end thereof in alignment with fixed contacts 2| and 22 carried on the ends of the magnetic members 23 and 24 disposed internally of the tubular arms I9b and I90 of the vacuum relay. In the particular construction of vacuum relay illustrated, the leaf spring is normally maintained in a neutral position subject to movement upwardly or downwardly, depending upon the excitation of magnetic members 23 and 24 internally of the vacuum relay. Other arrangements may be provided in which leaf spring 20 is normally biased to a position in which contacts 23a and 2I are normally closed while contacts 20b and 22 are'normally open and whereby excitation of magnetic member 24 serves to attract leaf spring 20 for closing the circuit between contact 201) and contact 22. Electrical connection is established to the contacts 20a and 23b of the movable armature 20 through the ball-like terminal It, clips I2, screw 9, strip 3 and binding post 6?). Electrical connection is established from fixed contact ZI through magnetic member 23, ball-like terminal II, clips I4, terminal screw II], strip I and binding post 'Ib. Electrical connection is established from fixed contact 22 through magnetic member 24 and ball-like terminal I8 to clips I5, securing Screw I I, connecting strip 8 and binding post 82).

The electromagnetic operating mechanism for the vacuum relay is housed within the transversely extending frame of nonmagnetic material, represented at 25, such as aluminum. The frame 25 is substantially semicircular in shape at one end, terminating in substantially parallel extending sides forming a U-shaped section directed toward the panel structure I of insulation material. The frame 25 'of non-magnetic material terminates in vertically extending flanges 25a and 251) which are secured to the panel I by sets of securing screws, represented at 26 and 21, which pass through the panel I and are secured on the rear thereof by suitable nuts 26a and 21a.

The nonmagnetic housing 25 has the wall thereof turned inwardly at the top and bottom in positions adjacent the panel I to provide lugs or tongues 25c, 25d, 25c and 251, which are directed toward each other. These tongues serve as supporting means for the end frame plates 32 and 33 of the solenoid, the plates being formed of nonmagnetic material. The end frame plates 32 and 33 are shaped to conform with the contour of the housing 25 and form a tight closure at each end of the housing for the protection of the solenoid winding 45 therein.

The end frame plates 32 and 33 are secured with respect to housing 25 by means of rivet members 28, 29, 30 and 3|, which pass through the lugs or tongues 25c, 25d, 25c and 25 respectively.

The end frame plates Bland 33 are apertured at 32a and 33a for the passage of the tubular or cylindrical member 34, of a cross section sufficient to form a passage for the-arm I of the vacuum relay I9. The tubular member 34 serves as a support for the tube of insulation material 31, which is integrally connected with the spool ends of insulation material represented at 35 and 36 for confining the solenoid 45 thereon.

Interposed between the spool end 36 of the solenoid and the end frame plate 33 of nonmagnetic material, I provide the magnetic plate 38 of toroidal shape. The magnetic plate 38 has a central aperture 38a therein through which the end of the tubular or cylindrical support 34 passes. The tubular or cylindrical support 34 is rolled over at the end 34a thereof to engage the internal periphery of the aperture 32a of end frame 32; and is correspondingly rolled over at the end 34b thereof to engage the internal periphery of aperture 33a of end frame plate 33 and aperture 38a of the magnetic plate 33 for confining the end frame plates 32 and 33, the magnetic member 38 and the spool ends 35 and 36 of solenoid winding 45 in position for support with respect to the nonmagnetic housing 25.

Intermediate the solenoid winding 45 and the nonmagnetic housing 25, I provide a horseshoe magnet 39 of U-shaped contour extending sub stantially normal to the plane of the end frame plates 32 and 33 with the poles thereof arranged directly adjacent the magnetic plate 38 and directed toward the supporting panel I. The horseshoe magnet 39 is rivetted or otherwise secured to the nonmagnetic housing 25 through suitable means, such as represented by rivet 40. Thus, a path for magnetic lines of force is provided through the toroidal plate 38 which is disposed in a transverse plane passing through the magnetic member 24 internally of the vacuum relay and continuing through the horseshoe magnet 39 in a vertical direction. Magnetic lines of force developed by the solenoid winding 45 may thus thread the substantially horizontally extending magnetic plate 38 and threading the substantially vertically extending horseshoe magnet 39, returning to the magnetic member 24 adjacent the upper end thereof. The arrangement is such that a close magnetic coupling is provided between magnetic member 24 and the lower end of the solenoid winding '45, while a loose magnetic coupling is provided between the upper end of the solenoid 45 and magnetic member 23. In order to complete the electrical circuit to the solenoid winding 45, I provide a pair of binding posts II and 42 which are insulatingly supported on the housing 25. The binding posts M and 42 are constructed in a very special manner. A pair of coacting bushings of insulation material, 43 and 44, are provided. The bushing 43 is passed through the housing 25 from the interior thereof with a sleeve portion projecting exteriorly of the housing 25. The bushing 44 has a recess therein which may be telescopically inserted over the projecting end of the bushing 43 for forming a tight insulated joint through the housing 25. The screw member represented at 42a in Fig. 4 is then passed through the conjoint arrangement of bushings 43 and 44 and provides a connecting means between the inturn of the solenoid Winding 45 and the nut-like terminal constituting the binding post, as represented at 42 in Fig. 4. The structure of the binding post and the end frame members of the casing is such that the solenoid 45 may be fungus treated and sealed up within the casing 25 which may be filled from the open side thereof with antifungus wax for insuring reliable service from the electromagnetic mechanism under conditions of moisture and high temperature encountered in the tropics.

The housing 25 and the interconnected end frame plates, 32 and 33, provide a radio frequency shield for the electromagnetic operating mechanism as well as forming a permanent protective housing.

I found the arrangement of magnetic members 38 and 39 interposed between the nonmagnetic housing 25 and the solenoid winding 45 highly successful in operation. The construction provides for a very high increase in efiiciency in the vacuum relay.

I have disclosed my invention in one of its pre ferred embodiments, but I realize that modifications may be made in the details of construction and I intend no limitations upon my invention other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In a vacuum relay comprising a supporting panel, pedestal insulators projecting from said supporting panel and having a multiplicity of substantially coplanar terminals thereon, a vacuum relay having terminals mounted on the terminals carried by said pedestal insulators, said vacuum relay including tubular portions each having magnetic operating means therein, an armature operative between said magnetic operating means, a frame structure carried by said supporting panel and surrounding one of the tubular portions of said vacuum relay, and a solenoid winding carried by said frame struc ture in a position surrounding said last men- 1 tioned tubular portion of said vacuum relay for exciting the magnetic operating means in said vacuum relay.

2. A vacuum relay including a multiple ended enclosing envelope, magnetic operating means 1 disposed in two of the ends of said envelope, a supporting frame carried by said supporting structure, said frame having a cylindrical passage therethrough surrounding the magnetic operating means in one of the ends of the envelope of said vacuum relay, a solenoid winding carried by said frame and surrounding the passage therein, a toroidal plate of magnetic material carried by said frame and transversely aligned with the magnetic operating means in the last mentioned end of the envelope of said relay, and a horseshoe magnet establishing magnetic relation between said toroidal plate and the magnetic operating means in the last mentioned end of the envelope of said relay for forming an external path for magnetic lines of force from said solenoid Winding through the last mentioned magnetic operating means in said relay.

3. In a vacuum relay including a multiple ended evacuated envelope, magnetic members axially disposed in two of the ends of said envelope, a contactor disposed in another of the ends of said envelope and operative between said magnetic members, an electromagnetic winding disposed about one of the first mentioned ends of said evacuated envelope for magnetically exciting said magnetic members, a horseshoe magnet disposed about said electromagnetic Winding, and an apertured magnetic plate surrounding the last mentioned end of said envelope and disposed in a transverse plane normal to the axis of said electromagnetic winding and in contact with said horseshoe magnet, the plane of said plate passing through one of said magnetic members and extending adjacent said electromagnetic winding, for establishing a path for magnetic flux around said electromagnetic winding through said magnetic members within the two ends of said envelope.

4. A vacuum relay comprising a support, insulation means projecting from said support, terminals spaced at approximately and carried by said insulation means, a vacuum relay having terminals spaced at approximately 90 and suspended on the terminals carried by said insulation means, the terminals on said relay and the terminals on said insulation means being substantially coplanar whereby said relay is maintained in spaced relation to said support, a supporting frame surrounding a portion of said vacuum relay and mounted on said support, and a solenoid winding disposed within said frame and surrounding a portion of said vacuum relay for electrically controlling said vacuum relay.

5. A vacuum relay of the type including an evacuated envelope having magnetic operating means therein terminating in externally disposed substantially spherical terminal members spaced at substantially 90, a support, means projecting from said support and spaced at substantially 90 for engaging said substantially spherical terminal members, a frame extending transversely from said support intermediate said terminals, and a solenoid winding carried by said frame and surrounding said magnetic operating means within the said vacuum relay for exciting the magnetic operating means in said vacuum relay.

6. A vacuum relay of the type including an evacuated envelope having magnetic operating means and associated electrical contacts therein terminating in externally disposed terminal members spaced at substantially a support, means projecting from said support at substantially 180 and engaging said terminal members for suspending said envelope in spaced relation to said support with said terminal members and said means substantially coplanar, an armature disposed between said contacts and said magnetic operating means, a frame extending transversely from said support intermediate said terminals, and a solenoid winding carried by said frame and surrounding said magnetic operating means Within the said vacuum relay, said solenoid winding exciting said magnetic operating means.

'7. A vacuum relay of the type including an evacuated envelope having at least three tubular extensions thereon, magnetic operating means disposed in two of said tubular extensions, an armature disposed in another of said extensions between said magnetic operating means, said magnetic operating means and said armature terminating in external terminal members spaced at substantially 90, a support, means projecting aeeassr from said support in substantial alignment with said terminal members and engaging said terminal members, whereby said envelope is mounted in spaced relation to said support, a frame extending transversely from said support intermediate said terminals, and a solenoid winding carried by said frame and surrounding the magnetic operating means within said vacuum relay for exciting said magnetic operating means.

8. A vacuum relay of the type including an evacuated envelope having at least three tubular extensions thereon, magnetic operating means disposed in two of said tubular extensions, an armature disposed in the third of said tubular extensions between the magnetic operating means in the other tubular extensions, said magnetic operating means and said armature terminating in external terminal members of substantially spherical contour disposed in coplanar relation, a support, members of insulation material projecting from said support, pairs of resilient securing clips carried by said members of insulation material, said resilient securing clips engaging said spherical terminals for suspending said vacuum relay in a spaced position away from said support, and electromagnetic means carried by said support and surrounding one of the tubular extensions of said envelope in alignment with the magnetic operating means therein for controlling the operation of said relay.

JOSEPH F. FRESE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 623,511 Bouchet Apr. 25, 1899 732,851 Hanchett July '7, 1903 1,226,546 McDowell May 15, 1917 1,877,619 Taylor Sept. 13, 1932 1,967,259 Putt July 24, 1934 2,029,267 Leece et al Jan. 28, 1936 2,060,285 Miller Nov. 10, 1936 2,064,477 Larson Dec. 15, 1936 2,080,861 Frese May 18, 1937 2,113,595 Larson et al. Apr. 12, 1938 2,300,868 Bottinger Nov. 3, 1942 2,331,114 Finch Oct. 5, 1943 2,360,941 Eitel et a1 Oct. 24, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 690,296 Germany Apr. 22, 1940 

